Toddler, grandmother bitten by neighbor’s loose dog, cops say

A 2-year-old boy received serious injuries to his hand and face when he got bitten by a neighbor’s loose dog and his grandmother received minor injuries while trying to protect her grandson, according to Pembroke Pines police.

The incident happened about 6:30 p.m. Thursday near Northwest 85th Way and 15th Court, a neighborhood just west of University Drive and south of Sheridan Street.

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According to police, the boy and his grandmother, who weren’t identified, were on the front lawn of their home when the neighbor’s Bullmastiff/Boxer mix “charged” at the child. “The child’s grandmother, as well as two of the dog’s owners, attempted to stop the dog during the attack,” police spokeswoman Amanda Conwell said in an email.

“He was mauled, it was horrible,” witness Mely Rivera told WSVN-Ch. 7. “I immediately called 911. I was on the phone with the dispatcher trying to get them out here as soon as possible because he was bleeding profusely," she told the station.

The bystanders were eventually able to get the dog off the boy. He was taken to Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital to be treated for injuries that police said were serious but not life-threatening. His grandmother was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital to be treated for hand injuries.

The dog was to be removed from its home and assessed by Broward County animal care officials, police said.